The Best Anti-Aging Permanent Hair Color

For almost a year the Health, Beauty, and Environmental Sciences Lab at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute (GHRI) prepped and dyed hundreds of gray-hair swatches and mailed multiple cartons of permanent hair dyes out to testers, to determine which brands give the best and longest lasting gray coverage. But we didn't stop there-- we also evaluated the hair colors to see how well they resisted fading and whether or not they imparted shine. Our ultimate goal was to find the permanent hair color that's the very best at combating the signs of aging on hair.

More From Good Housekeeping

How we tested: If you read my colleague Birnur Aral's blog, you know that our anti-aging testing was no easy task and involved evaluations of a total of twelve leading brands in a multitude of shades. They were used by women at home who gave us feedback four weeks after coloring their hair. In the lab we prepped and labeled gray hair swatches, then dyed them the best-selling black, brown, blonde, and red shades and subjected them to multiple washes, blow-drys, and UV rays. After subjecting them to the equivalent of four weeks' worth of "wear", we evaluated them in a room with controlled lighting for fading and shine.

What we found: Revlon ColorSilk with UV Defense($3.69) hair color was the overall best performer! This hair color scored top points for resisting fading, especially in black and brown shades. The ammonia-free formulation won over testers for having the least offensive scent and being the least irritating to the scalp, a big plus for those with skin sensitivities.

Following closely was the Couture Color Luxeblend Crème($30.00) hair color. This product was most preferred among testers, earning kudos for its ability color evenly, to hide grays completely, deposit rich color, and make hair shiny. As a bonus, the Couture Colour kit comes with a one-month supply of pequi oil treatment, designed to tame frizz and add shine to hair.